Mobile concrete batcher



Oct. 29, 1957 A. J. KAYSER 2,811,258

MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Filed June 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ot. 29, 1957A. J. KAYsER 2,811,268

MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Filed June 4. 1956 5 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.zM/y /f/xf Oct. 29, 1957 A. J. KAYsER 2,811,268

MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Filed June 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UnitedStates Patent MOBILE CONCRETE BATCHER Allan J. Kayser, Denver, Colo.

lApplication June 4, 1956, Serial No. 589,286

Claims. (Cl. 214-512) This invention relates to fa vconcrete batcher,that is, to -a `device for receiving the proportioned ingredients for aconcrete mixture and delivering the said ingredients as a completelyproportioned batch to va mobile concrete mixer. Concrete batc'hers 'areusually rather large, heavy, fixed structures located at central pointsfrom which the tmobile v'mixers receive, mix and distributethe'concrete. Jobs are often encountered vwhich are not -of suicientlmagnitude -to Warrant the Vexpenditure of the time Vand money requiredin erection of the usual xed type of batcher, yet transportation of theconcrete from the nearest fixed batcher would `be impractical duetodistances involved.

The principal -object of the present invention is to provide a highlyethcient, portable concrete batcher `which can be quickly, 1easily andeconomically taken to widely separated jobs which -can Abe placed intoimme- `vdiate use Yupon varrival at the job Vand which will rapidly andefficientlydeliverproportionedibatches -to the mixers 'inclosevproxirnity to the job.

Another object of the invention is to provide -'a port- -able batcherwhich can be trailed behind fany towing vehicle, and which, uponarrivalatthe job, can'be easily and safely lowered to the ground forlirm, substantial Isupport.

A further object is `to provide Va unitary batcher'with -the'use ofwhich sand, gravel, cement, and any other Vdry ingredients can befaccurately weighed to properly proportion the batch and which willelevate `the pro,

.portioned batch sufficiently high for rapid delivery into Vthereceiving chute of a conventional mobile concrete mixer and to providemeans for deliveringfthe exact necessary water to Athe mixer'simultaneously with the delivery ofthe batch.

Other objects and advantagesreside in the detail construction of `theinvention, which 's designed for simplicity, economy, and eciency. These`will become 'more apparent :from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadt'o the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts inall vviews of the drawing'and throughoutfth'edescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side'elevationlview of the improved-concrete batch'er,illustrating it insolidlline'in the-lowered,

vportable position, and in broken line inthe elevated,

view, taken on the line 4--4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar enlarged, fragmentary, detail, sec- Fig. f 6 is faschematic piping *diagram illustrating'the Iflow off-hydrauliclluidinthe-improved batcher.

The `i'mprc'sved batcher iis mounted `on 1a #substantially ICC `side ofthe frame 10.

A retractable ground-engaging wheel 15 is Npositioned lbetween YeachYlongitudinal frame member 11 Aand 'the adjacentside ofthe frame 10.Each wheel 15 is mounted in a suitable axle fitting "secured to themid-portion of a leaf spring 16 by means of suitable spring shacklesA17. The rear extremity of v'each leaf spring 16 is hingedly mounted on'a spring hinge'shaft 18 aiiixed to and extending between AaAlongitudinal frame member 11and one side Vof the frame 10. The forwardextremity of each spring v16 Yis detachably mounted upon `a removablespring pin 19 extending through spring ears 20 welded or otherwisesecured 'to the adjacent platform -plate V14.

It can be seen that when the `spring pins 19 are in place, the wheelswill be in the traveling position of Fig. l and 'the `supporting framevwill `be resiliently vsupported on the springs v16. If the Ipins 19 arewithdrawn,

however, the frame Acan descend, `due to the .hinge mountin'gs fof thesprings 16 'upon `the hinge shafts "18 until it rests fflat upon theground.

During transportation, the Aforward extremity of .the iframe v101is`supported Efrom the towing-vehicle lby means of -a suitable A-shapedtongue structure 2,1 which is re- Amovably mounted-on-withdrawabletongue pins, 22extend- .ing `through tongue clips Y23welded to Ithe :frontof the frame 10. VA 'forward hydraulic jack 24 vandAa rear hyforce fplungers 26 downwardly intok contact with .the

.ground surface.

The supporting frame `'is transferred from the .portable `position tothe xed position by firstjactuating the forward jack T24 to cause itsplunger 426 `to engage the Vgroundiso as 'to relieve the loadonthetonguestructure 21. The ltongue pins 22- are then Withdrawn and thetongue structure '21 isrrernoved. The forward extremity of the frame 10is now lowered tothe ground lby reverse actuation ofthe jack 24. Therearjac`k25 is now actuated to cause its plunger v26 to engage theground so as to relieve the load on the wheels 15. The spring pins 19are now withdrawn and the rearjack 25 is reversely actuated-tolowertherear extremity of `the frame 1'0 to the ground.

A vertical hydrauliccylinder 27 is l'supportedn each platform plate 1'4.Each'hydraulic 'cylinder is :provided with. an upper anged'collar -28which is welded or otherwise secured thereto adjacent the top thereof.Four elongated tie .bolts '29 provided'with 'the-usual nuts 30 extendbetween `the'flange of each-collar '28'and1theplatform platetherebelowjby'means-of which the hydraulic cylinders are ixedly clampedagainst Vthe .platform plates 14.

Eachl of the collars `28is provided with'two ,oppositelyprojecting stayrod ears 31 and an inclined vturnbuckletype -stayrod 32 ismountedoneachear 31lby means of a mounting "bolt 33. The inclined stayrods 32`extend `downwardlytoattachment Vears 34 formed on the for-'ward-andfrear extremitiesof leach side m'emberof the frame lltlandactto rigidly maintain the hydraulic cylin- 'ders 27inifxedvertical'positions.

A tubular'hydraulic plunger'BS is sli'dably mountedin each hydrauliccylinder 27 and extends thereabove to receive a removable, inverted,cup-shaped cap 36. A cross beam 37, preferably T-shaped incross-section, extends between the two caps 36 and is welded to thelatter at its extremities. The cross beam 37 is rigidly braced at eachof its extremities and at an angle of 90 to the axis of the caps 36 bymeans of a first pair of gusset plates 38 which are welded to both sidesof the cross beam 37 and to the adjacent cap 36.

An inclined hanger bar 39 is welded at its upper extremity to eachgusset plate 38 andextends outwardly and downwardly therefrom. Eachhanger bar 39 is rigidly fixed at an angle of substantially 45 with theplane of the plates 38 by means of a second pair of gusset plates 40welded to both sides of the hanger bar and 'to the adjacent gusset plate38, and the beam 37. lt can be seen that the above structure providestwo hanger bars extending oppositely outward in A-shaped relation fromeach extremity of the cross beam 37.

The lower extremities of the four hanger bars are welded or otherwisefxedly secured to a rectangular, horizontal hopper frame 41. Atriangular hopper plate is secured to and extends downwardly andinwardly from each side of the hopper frame 41 to form an inverted,pyramidal hopper 42. The rear hopper plate is cut back to form afour-sided throat opening 43 in the bottom of the hopper 42, from thetwo sides and front of which skirt plates 44 depend to direct andconfine discharging material.

The material discharging through the throat opening 43 piles upon aninclined conveyor belt 45 positioned therebelow. The conveyor belt istrained between terminal conveyor rollers 46 mounted in the extremitiesof an inclined conveyor frame 47. The midportion of the upper reach ofthe conveyor belt 45 is supported upon suitable idler rollers 48journalled in the conveyor frame 47.

The conveyor frame is xedly supported and suspended from the hopperframe 41 and its hopper 42 at an angle of substantially in any desiredmanner. As illustrated, the forward extremity of the conveyor frame 47is'supported from the hopper 42 upon suitable hanger struts 49, and therear extremity of the conveyor frame 47 is supported from the hopperframe 41 through the medium of suitable turnbuckle rods 50.

The conveyor belt 45 can be driven in any desired manner. It ispreferred, however, to employ a conventional hydraulic motor theposition of which is indicated at 51 in Fig. 2, provided with aconventional speed re ducer positioned at 52, to deliver power to thelower conveyor roller 46. The hydraulic motor 51 and the speed reducer52 are conventional and are iixedly mounted on the conveyor frame 47 inany desired manner so as to move integrally therewith. Hydraulic fluidfor operating the motor S1 is conducted thereto by means of exiblehoses, such as illustrated diagrammatically at 73 in Fig. 6, to allowfreedom of movement.

Hydraulic pressure for actuating the plungers in the hydraulic cylinders27, the jacks 24 and 25, and the hydraulic motor 51 can be supplied fromany suitable source. For convenience in portability, the hydraulic fluidis preferably supplied from a hydraulic fluid reservoir 53 mounted inthe frame 10, and the pumping power is supplied from a portable gasengine, as indicated at 54, secured on an engine platform plate y55mounted on the frame 10. The engine 54 drives two hydraulic pumps 56 anda water pump 57 through the medium of conventional V-belts 5S.

For clarity of illustration the various hydraulic and water pipes, tubesand hoses have been omitted from the illustrations and are showndiagrammatically in Fig. 6. The ilow` of hydraulic huid is controlled bymeans of suitable conventional hydraulic valves positioned convenientlyfor the operator. As illustrated, a hydraulic valve 59 controls the ilowto and from the forward jack 24; a

'plies water from any suitable source of supply through a water valve 63and a water meter 64 to a discharge nozzle 65 supported at the upperrearward extremity of the conveyor frame 47.

It can be seen that if concrete-forming ingredients are dumped into thehopper 42, they will pile upon and will be prevented from llowingthrough the throat opening 43 by the conveyor belt 45 positionedtherebelow. if, however, hydraulic lluid be admitted to the hydraulicmotor 51, the upper reach of the conveyor belt 45 will travel from belowthe throat opening 43 to carry the material upwardly and rearwardly onthe conveyor belt 45, from which it will be discharged over the upperconveyor roller 46.

The weight of the ingredients in the hopper is indicated at all timesupon a conventional dial-type weighing scale 67 mounted upon a scaleplate 71 at the rear of the frame 1i) within easy view of an operatorstationed at the hydraulic control valves. The scale 67 indicates weightplaced upon a scale platform 68 which is mounted within the platformscale opening 13. The operating connections between the scale platform68 and the scale 67 are any of the conventional platform scalemechanisms presently in use and need not be described in detail here.

The weight of the hopper 42 and its contents is transferred to the scaleplatform 68 by means of hoppersupporting legs 69 which extend downwardlyto a rectangular base frame 70 below the hopper. Thus, when Ythe hopperis in its fully lowered position, the base frame 70 will rest on thescale platform 68 so that the weight of the ingredients being placed inthe hopper will be indicated upon the dial scale 67.

It will be understood that for charging the hopper with its properlyproportioned ingredients the valve 61 is operated to release thepressure in hydraulic cylinders 27 to permit the plungers 55 to descendso that the base plate of the hopper rests on scale platform 68. In thisposition the hopper is free from support by plungers 35 by reason of theloose mounting of caps 36 over the tops V of the plungers.

In use, the improved batcher is positioned below any suitable ramp orloading platform which will enable the delivery vehicles to deliver thesand, gravel, cement, and any other ingredients into the hopper. As eachingredient is being supplied to the hopper, the operator watches thedial scale 67 and stops the supply in the proper proportion. When all ofthe ingredients have been placed in the hopper, the valve 61 is operatedto admit hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders 27 to force theplungers 35 upwardly therein to elevate the hopper and its connectedconveyor mechanism to the broken line position of Fig. l.

The feed hopper of a conventional mobile concrete mixer is positionedbelow the discharge extremity of the conveyor belt 45, and the valve 62is actuated to admit hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor 51 toinitiate operation of the conveyor belt 45 to deliver the batch to theconcrete mixer in a continuous stream. The water valve 63 is then openedand a predetermined amount of water, metered by the Water meter 64 isdelivered to the mixer through the discharge nozzle 65. The mobileconcrete mixer is then driven away and the valves 61 and 62 are operatedto stop the conveyor and to lower the hopper onto the scale platform 68to receive the next succeeding batch.

Itis desired to call attention to the fact that the hopper land conveyorstructure are notattached to the plungers 35, and a hoist can beattached tothe crossbeam 37 to lift the caps 36 from the plungers 35 sothat the entire hopper and its attached structure may be set aside,supported on the base frame 70, or it may be handled and transportedseparately from the frame and its superstructure. With the hopperremoved, the platform scale can be used for any desired weighingpurposes independently of the batching mechanism.

It is preferred to provide side boards 66 for the conveyor belt 45 toprevent materials from over-owing the sides of the conveyor.

For convenience, it has been found advisable to support the hydraulicpump 56 above the water pump 57 upon a pump supporting bracket 72.

While a specic form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

1. A concrete batching device comprising: a horizontally positionedsupporting frame; means for connecting the forward extremity of saidframe to a towing vehicle; wheels supporting the rear extremity of saidframe; a hydraulic cylinder vertically supported at each side of saidframe; a hydraulic plunger slidably mounted in each cylinder; a batchhopper positioned between said cylinders; means supporting said hopperfrom said two plungers; means yfor admitting hydraulic fluid into saidcylinders to cause said plungers to elevate said hopper; means fordelivering material from said hopper when the latter is in the elevatedposition; two hydraulic jacks mounted respectively centrally fore andaft on said frame, means for adjusting the forward jack to lower theforward side of the frame to the lground, means for admitting hydraulicfluid to the rear jack to raise the rear side of the frame so as to liftthe wheels free from the ground, and means for releasing said wheels tomove upwardly freely relative to said frame so that the latter may restupon the ground when the hydraulic pressure is released from the rearjack.

2. A concrete hatching device comprising: a horizontally positionedsupporting frame; a hydraulic cylinder vertically supported at each sideof said frame; a hydraulic plunger slidably mounted in each cylinder; abatch hopper positioned between said cylinders; means supporting saidhopper freely from said two plungers; means for admitting hydraulictluid simultaneously into said cylinders to cause said plungers toelevate said hopper; means for delivering material from said hopper whenthe latter is in the elevated position; a weighing scale platformsupported in said supporting frame; and means for transmitting theweight of said hopper to said scale platform free from supportingengagement by said plungers when said hopper is in the lowered positionto weigh the ingredients within said hopper.

3. A concrete hatching device as described in claim 2 having an inclinedbelt conveyor device; and means suspending said conveyor device from andbelow said hopper so as to move as a unit therewith, said hopper havinga discharge throat positioned to deliver material to the lower extremityof said conveyor.

4. A concrete batching device comprising: a horizontally positionedsupporting frame; a hydraulic cylinder vertically supported at each sideof said frame; a hyldraulic plunger slidably mounted in each cylinder; abatch hopper positioned Ibetween said cylinders; means supporting saidhopper from said two plungers; means for admitting hydraulic duidsimultaneously into said cylinders to cause said plungers to elevatesaid hopper; means for delivering material from said hopper when thelatter is in the elevated position; a base frame mounted on said hopperand extending downwandly therefrom; a weighing scale supported in saidsupporting frame upon which said hopper base frame rests free fromsupporting engagement by said plungers when said hopper is in itslowered position; and weight-indicating means actuated in consequence ofsaid weight-supporting means.

' 5. A concrete `batcher as defined in claim l, in which said batchhopper is removable from said device by lifting said cross beam olf saidplungers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,629,771 Young May 24, 1927 2,204,053 Fivecoate et al. July 9, 19402,312,806 Ellen Mar. 2, 1943 2,325,445 Wagner July 27, 1943 2,348,880Berg et al. May 16, 1944 2,547,403 Madsen Apr. 3, 1951 2,739,804Funderburk Mar. 27, 1956

